BAY OF PLENTY BEACON Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1948. COUNTY RATES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 50, 28 May 1948, Page 4

BAY OF PLENTY BEACON Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1948. COUNTY RATES

Not without reluctance, the Whakatane County Council has found it necessary to increase the general rate by -|d. The decision at Tuesday’s meeting of the Council was unanimous, and prompted by a finance committee recommendation based on estimates which showed clearly that a revenue increase would be absolutely necessary if services were to be maintained with costs still showing a rising tendency. There will, in all probability, be some criticism from some of, the ratepayers, and they will be quite entitled to complain about an added burden when costs on many properties are already loaded to the limit. Still, there would seem to be little justification for blaming the County Council.

' It is undeniable that costs of everything in this country have risen to a degree that seems to have alarmed almost everyone but the few ardent inflationists who still poke their heads ostrich like into the sands of. self-de-lusion and say that , all wb need is a few new awards, a few more taxes and some more regulations and restrictions. Faced with the hard facts of having to maintain a decent standard of communcations in its district, and to pay for the amenities it provides out of a purse with strictly limited sources of replenishment, the Council had to take a realistic view of the situation and act accordingly. There were some revealing figures in the annual reports, a summary of which will be published immediately space permits. Road expenditure per mile over main roads was higher last year than in any of the five preceding years, and the same comment applies to main highways, though riding roads showed slightly higher in 1945-46. So far, the County Clerk, Mr C. G. Lucas, pointed out in his annual report, nothing has been heard of the Government and Parliamentary Select Committee's report dealing with the proposed -£ for £ subsidy on maintenance and construction roading costs in lieu of the present rate subsidy. If such a recommendation were adopted, he considered, real rating relief could be afforded. In view of all the circumstances, and particularly in view of this autumn’s flood damage and the expenditure it is likely to necessitate, the Council could hardly have done other than it has done. The step took courage and a realistic appreciation of the facts.